Dear Editor,
State revenues have exploded in recent years. Where’s all that money going? Not where it matters most, which is to properly support schools, local services, and improved infrastructure. An audit of the Legislature would help but entrenched politicians have circled the wagons to deny the will of voters.
Costs have skyrocketed but the amount of local aid from the state via Unrestricted General Government Aid is about the same compared to 20 years ago. And we wonder why communities struggle to balance the budget. To be clear, increased aid shouldn’t be achieved via higher taxes, which some promote, but rather addressing politically-motivated state-level spending.
Status-quo politicians like Senator Finegold have perfected the game, providing voters/communities with just enough table scraps but primarily working to maintain the corrupt political system that most despise. The issue of transparency goes well beyond simply auditing the Legislature, which 72% of voters demanded. Massachusetts is the only state where the Governor’s office, the Legislature, and the Judiciary all claim exemption from public records law. There’s no excuse for it. The time’s now for sunshine across the board.
These are common-sense issues that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents all agree on. Still, nothing meaningful will change without new Statehouse representation for which I’m running. Senator Finegold made clear he sides with insiders via his recent high-profile Beacon Hill spat with State Auditor Diana DiZoglio. Finegold used the beyond tired everything excuse of “Trump” to argue against more sunshine in Massachusetts. Furthering the point, I reviewed all Facebook/X social media posts from Senator Finegold over the past year+ and there is not a single mention of anything related to transparency/audit. There are endless fluff posts and photo-ops, but very little substance that matters.
According to GOUSA, which is a nonpartisan politician rating group monitoring adherence to the Constitution and promotion of personal/economic/social/educational/national opportunity, Senator Finegold is rated dead last out of 186 Massachusetts-based state/national politicians with the most extreme negative Opportunity score on their list!
With state leaders blatantly ignoring the will of voters and with citizens/businesses leaving the state in droves, it’s time to inject new blood into the Statehouse. It’s time to elect people who’ll actively build up our sense of community, support our families, and inspire real and positive change. We cannot afford to sit back on our heels anymore if we want a future for our children in this region. Our time is now.
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Follow Wilmington Apple on Instagram. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 